Air bag replacement - Honda Accordian

If you've been in an accident that deployed your airbags, but left your car functional you no doubt have discovered the outrageous cost of airbag replacement. Getting replacements from a salvage yard and doing the replacement yourself is a relatively inexpensive alternative. I hope everyone is ok.

I worked at a wrecking yard where I pulled hundreds of airbags. I want you to understand, they can be dangerous if handled improperly.

Some warnings before you begin. Take these Seriously!!!

• Alway wear safety glasses.
• Control the environment - no kids, pets, people horsing around.
  
• Disconnect the negative battery terminal. After you are done, make sure no one is inside the vehicle when you reconnect the battery. If your vehicle has an anti-theft system, you'll need to get your activation codes to reset your sound system.
• Do not use solvents to clean your airbags. They may ignite if accidentally deployed. Use only a damp cloth.
  
• Airbags are sensitive to heat in excess of 190 degrees F. Store them accordingly.
  
• Airbags are sensitive to impact - handle them carefully
• Airbags are sensitive to static electricity - ground yourself, Spray the seat and rug with fabric softener (anti-static - ever heard the term 'static cling')
• Be safe

The procedures are pretty simple

Drivers Side:

• Disconnect the negative battery cable.
  
• Loosen and remove the retaining screws from behind the steering wheel. Rotate the wheel as needed to access the screws. You may need to purchase new retaining screws in advance to install the new bag.
  
• Return the wheel to the straight ahead position.
• Lift the airbag assembly out and disconnect the wiring connector from the rear of the unit.
• Unwrap the new airbag (carefully).
• Connect the the wiring connector and seat the airbag into the steering wheel. Be sure the wire doesn't get pinched.
• Install the new retaining screws and tighten them securely.
  

Passenger side:

• Loosen and remove the passenger side dash retaining screws
• Move it downward to release the retaining clips and remove.
• Unscrew the airbag retaining screws along the edge of the airbag.
• Move the airbag assembly downward the release it fom its mounting pegs.
• Remove the airbag from the dash, disconnecting the wire as soon as you are able. I believe your model has mounting guides, if so save them.
• If there were guides, place them back into the mounting frame.
• Position the airbag over the mounting frame and reconnect the wiring connector.
  
• Mount the new airbag, securely tighten the retaining screws.
• Remount the dash and screw it back in.
• Make sure nobody is in the car
• Reconnect the battery.

All done

One more time, be serious, be careful, be safe.

I hope this helps
Mike